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MESA, Ariz. -- The scrutiny will be on Mike Olt at Wrigley Field, and the spotlight will be on Kris Bryant when their respective seasons start next month. But Olt, who will handle most of the third base duties with the Chicago Cubs, believes there will be room for him and Bryant once Bryant is recalled from Triple-A Iowa. “If you hit, you’ll be in the lineup," Olt said Tuesday, one day after Bryant was sent to the minors despite hitting nine home runs in spring training. "It’s going to be one of those things, and I told them I’m ready to play wherever they need me, and I think (Bryant) said the same thing. It’s whatever is going to help the team,...

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MESA, Ariz. -- The scrutiny will be on Mike Olt at Wrigley Field, and the spotlight will be on Kris Bryant when their respective seasons start next month.
But Olt, who will handle most of the third base duties with the Chicago Cubs, believes there will...

MESA, Ariz. -- Manager Joe Maddon said Monday morning the Chicago Cubs' bullpen was looking "more firm," and it was looking all but settled after they selected the contract of left-handed reliever Phil Coke after an 8-5 win over San...

MESA, Ariz. -- The mission at Triple-A Iowa for Javier Baez is simple - cut down on strikeouts.
But manager Joe Maddon intimated there are exceptions for other players - particularly slugger Kris Bryant.
"(Bryant) is going to strike out a...

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Mercurial Edwin Jackson made his best case Sunday to share the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation.
But Jackson's 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Royals will be weighed along with several other factors by team officials this week as...

MESA, Ariz. -- Javier Baez's strongest supporters will point to the two strong throws he made Sunday as proof that he's deserving of a spot on the Chicago Cubs' opening day roster.
But Baez's skeptics will point to his three strikeouts as evidence that...

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs are expected to finalize the alignment of their starting rotation shortly after left-handed ace Jon Lester throws a minor league game Tuesday.
And they haven't ruled out the slim possibility that the left hamstring...

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Edwin Jackson remains an enigma because of performances like Sunday when he pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings after allowing eight runs on nine hits in his previous appearance.
Jackson is trying to secure at least part of the fifth...

MESA, Ariz. — Joe Maddon isn't likely to glare over at the opposing dugout and shout profanities at the rival manager the way Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa often did when the Cubs and Cardinals faced each other a decade ago.
At least not right away.
...

MESA, Ariz. — After Cubs second baseman Javier Baez was pummeled trying to turn a double play the other night against the Angels, manager Joe Maddon rushed out of the dugout wondering if he would need smelling salts.
"Javy (was) clocked like an...

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Theo Epstein got some support from Major League Baseball in the Kris Bryant saga on Friday while MLB's investigation in tampering charges against the Cubs in the Joe Maddon hiring enters its final stage.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said...

MESA, Ariz. -- With 5 1/2 weeks of spring training completed, Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon thought Saturday was a good time to move slugger Anthony Rizzo to the leadoff spot.
"It freshes them up a bit," Maddon said of the change....

MESA, Ariz. -- After learning that Theo Epstein hasn't placed a rookie on his opening day roster as general manager and president with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, phenom Kris Bryant had more incentive.
"I look at it as ‘why not me?’...

After bouncing around in the Chicago Cubs system, Maine South product Brian Schlitter hopes to be a part of what could be a renaissance season for the baseball team.
Schlitter, whose long brown hair and beard make him one of the most distinctive...

MESA, Ariz. — Kris Bryant is ready to assume the position.
The Cubs' slugging third-base prospect, who leads the Cactus League with nine home runs, will make his outfield debut Thursday against the Angels.
"I want to get him out there (in left...

MESA, Ariz. — Devoted Cubs fan George McCaskey, representing the Bears at the NFL owners meetings a few cacti down the road, took advantage of the boondoggle to attend a weekend spring-training game at Sloan Park.
Did McCaskey see a Cubs team closer to...

MESA, Ariz. — Kris Bryant continues to hit in the fast lane, and Jon Lester is proceeding with caution.
Edwin Jackson?
The embattled Cubs pitcher said he received some inaccurate directions to HoHoKam Stadium that steered him off course in his attempt...

MESA, Ariz. -- There's a strong chance that Jon Lester won't pitch in another exhibition game this month.
But the Chicago Cubs want to make sure their prized left-hander builds up enough arm strength in a controlled setting in preparation for their April...

MESA, Ariz. -- It's back to outfield basics for Chicago Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant.
In an effort to increase his versatility and perhaps his chances of strengthening the lineup, the 6-foot-5 Bryant worked on taking proper routes and his footwork...